“Reading and writing are acts of empathy and faith. Guard that trust carefully — in this rapidly changing business, it’s the only sure thing.” ~Erin Keane

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Sunday, November 18, 2012

How It Feels to be the Editor

I can't decide which is more exciting-- seeing my own book for the first time or one that I edited. With my own it's like I'm the mom, with the other it's like I'm the grandmother.

I get all the joy and thrill but the writer is the one who has to do the marketing-- the never-ending promotional efforts that are necessary if the new release is to survive and thrive in the marketplace.

So in that case, being the editor is pretty dang exciting and, once the book is out, stress-free! I recently received my copy of Iced Romance by Whitney Boyd (WiDo Publishing, 2012), and it is just the prettiest thing ever.

The cover's all shiny and smooth, the book is nice and solid, not a small book, and feels good in my hands. As editor, I've been through these pages many times but I still want to lie down under the covers and curl up with this jewel to begin Chapter One.

Want to know what it's about?

Kennedy Carter has the perfect life. It includes an
engagement to an NHL celebrity all-star, a Vera Wang wedding dress, and
more money than she could ever spend. But when Kennedy learns that her
fiance Todd is cheating on her, she decides to leave the glamour and
glitz behind.She escapes to Orlando, Florida with a plan to rebuild her
life while staying hidden from a country obsessed with celebrity
scandals. The real world however, is tougher than she expected. Suddenly
Kennedy has to deal with cockroaches, creepy alarm salesmen, and
waiting tables… along with David, a gorgeous new love interest.

But what happens when the past refuses to stay hidden? When
the truth of her background catches up to her, Kennedy must finally
decide who she is, what she wants and where she really belongs.

Whitney Boyd is the first author at WiDo to get two books out in the same year. Wow, Whitney! Congratulations! Tanned, Toned and Totally Faking It came out in February of this year. And I was fortunate to be her editor for both!

Whitney blogs here on topics like fashion, lifestyle, the celebrity scene, romance and other stuff that she also likes to write novels about.

Dear Karen, helping someone hone and polish and enhance their writing is one of the great joys of my life. For ten years, I taught professional editing at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Observing students learn and master what I was presenting to them and then watching them become much more adept than I was at both writing and editing is a joyous gift. That's the way life is best lived for me--passing forward my own gifts to those who then do better than I. That's the joy of teaching.

Congratulations to you on being both writer and editor. How lucky and blessed others are to have you use your talent to help them get published. Peace.

I'm so used to the writer's perspective (though seeing my book out there is still somewhere in the future) that I never thought about the editor. Good to know you take such an interest on the books you've helped bring to light.

Botanist, I don't believe this is just me but overall the feelings of editors everywhere. I'll go back to the mom/grandma analogy, because I am that as well! When one of my children has success I'm extremely proud of them but don't pat myself on the back and say "It was all me, not them."

And as a writer, I am so grateful for the editors who care about my work. Writers can know that their editor is passionate about that manuscript, and really wants to see it become a successful book.

Congrats! After I had my book published, I thought I'd want to write another one and I'm sure I will later but now all I want to do is edit and work with new writers. It's a great feeling knowing you've helped someone on their path.

Jennee, It really is a great feeling! Editors don't like the limelight and are happy to be cheerleader and coach while the writer takes the ball and runs with it. The more glory the writer can get out there in the field, the happier the editor is, cheering from the sidelines. "That's my girl!" And all that LOL.

Hilary, It really is an interesting position to be in! I think it gives me insight on the writer's perspective, and helps me to understand the effort it takes and to appreciate the writer's skill. There are times when I'm reading a manuscript that I think, WOW. This person is a better writer than I am.

Paul, the finish of the cover is important for the tone of the book. A matte finish works better for some, glossy for another. Glossy is definitely better for Iced Romance! Sometimes the publisher gets it wrong. My latest novel came out in glossy when it really should have been matte. However, we didn't pay to have it redone since most of my book sales are Kindle.

I don't think your weird at all. I could have written even more about matte and glossy finish, it's a big deal--one of those subtle elements that comes into play with print book sales.

Paul, WiDo had a designer that thought carefully about all of those elements. We lost him this year and really miss his skill! I think we're back on track now with getting it all pulled together on cover design. Because you're right, it's not just the artwork etc, it's combining every element both on the cover and interior to create that physical design that looks polished and professional, like a real book.

I like that book cover, and I like that dress! And I also like the description of the story; it sounds interesting. And it's relevant too, seeing as how so many people (including me, sometimes) get caught up in celebrity scandals.

Please stay and make yourself at home. I made cookies.

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